Retrospective: The Best Nas Songs

Nas, one of the greatest MCs of all time has been discussed pretty often on this site, but that's to be expected. Today, we sat down ans chose a list of his greatest songs. We gave everyone 10 or so choices to make, however many of us chose some of the same songs. Similar to how we structured the sports video games article, we list each song and who chose them. We intended to make this a 40 song list, but the particular numbers don't matter. Nas' catalog is so extensive that we had to just let the choices roll as they come. Kick back, turn your headphones up, and go down the road with us as we choose the best and our favorite Nas songs.

*Memory Lane(Chosen by All)

-Possibly the best track off Illmatic. Nas once again giving the listeners images over a Billy Stewart sample that fits the song so perfectly.

*One Love(Chosen By True)

-I was shocked I was the only one who picked this song, but nonetheless, this is a classic and my 2nd favorite song on Illmatic.

*It Ain't Hard To Tell(Chosen By Tye and Dizzle)

-How can you not include this one? One of the best songs off Illmatic, we both think this should definitely on the list.

*N.Y. State of Mind(Chosen By Erika F.)

-One of the strongest songs of his career, man. How can you have a Nas best songs list and not have this? It's a must.

*The World Is Yours(Chosen By Speed)

-Absolutely great. One of Nas' strongest lyrical showings ever.

*Life's A Bitch(Chosen by Apollo)

-This is a track I relate to and understand as a black man. Both Nas and AZ came with great verses.

*Affirmative Action(Chosen by Erika F.)

-This track from It Was Written, features The Firm and sees amazing verses from all artists involved.

*If I Ruled The World(Chosen By Speed)

-Nas commercial singles catch flack but I loved them, this one especially. I'll catch hell for a later choice but... Hey.

*Watch Dem Niggas(Chosen by True and Apollo)

-As you'll learn, HS' favorite Nas album is clearly It Was Written haha. This song is a no brainer. A classic.

*Black Girl Lost(Chosen By True and Apollo)

-A song that still resonates to this day. Powerful and honest, the song speaks of an issue still relevant today.

*I Gave You Power(Chosen By Dizzle)

-How can you miss this one? This is an all time classic.

*Take It In Blood(Chosen By Apollo)

-The beat. The lyrics. The masterful wordplay. This is an all time classic.

*Silent Murder(Chosen By True)

-This is one of Nas' most slept on tracks. An absolute classic.

*K-I-S-S-I-N-G(Chosen by Tye)

-Off his I Am album, this was a favorite of mine and the R. Kelly sample was absolutely crazy.

*Nas Is Like(Chosen by Speed and Dizzle)

-Premo and Nas. That is usually always a winning combination.

*Drunk By Myself(Chosen By Speed)

-Nas is relatable as the everyday man and a storyteller. This is the best example of that.

*Blaze A 50(Chosen By True and Dizzle)

-Nas and his storytelling, along with his lyrical focus on this track make it one of my all time favorites.

*You Owe Me(Chosen By Speed)

-I know. I know. The whole team is looking at me like I've lost it. I love this song. This made my middle school days easier. And it's not a bad song to me.

*Some Of Us Have Angels(Chosen by Apollo)

-A slept on track on his worst album, this song is a classic to me.

*Got Yourself A Gun(Chosen By Speed)

-I absolutely loved this song. I think its one of Nas' best.

*Rewind(Chosen by Tye and Erika F.)

The most creative Nas song possibly. Nas tells a story backwards from the gunshot to getting the voicemail about the man they're supposed to kill. Even talking backwards really showed some true skill.

*Ether(Chosen By Erika F. And Dizzle)

-I had to include this. One of the greatest diss tracks ever.

*You're Da Man(Chosen by True, Erika F. and Apollo)

-Lyrically, this might be Nas' best showing. Over an amazing Large Professor beat, Nas masterfully paints pictures with some of the best imagery ever. The full version with the lines cut from the Stillmatic released version is out of this world.

The Cross(Chosen By Tye and Apollo)

-Eminem usually has dark beats and this one worked perfectly as Nas paints more vivid pictures.

*Heaven(Chosen By True)

-A song that goes slept on, Nas created a gem here.

*2nd Childhood(Chosen by True and Apollo)

-One of the deepest tracks from this Nas era, another Premo and Nas classic.

*One Mic(Chosen by Speed and Dizzle)

-The storytelling. The lyrics. The verse structure. Nuff said.

*Find Ya Wealth(Chosen By True)

-An often overlooked track from Nas, he spits some of his best verses here.

*Good Morning(Chosen By True)

-An unreleased track so to speak, Nas spits flames over an Isleys sample.

*Get Down(Chosen By All)

-Yet another classic track here. Storytelling is through the roof here on this one.

*Last Real Nigga Alive(Chosen by All)

-Nas and his storytelling abilities are top notch, and this song is yet another gem.

*No Idea's Original(Chosen By True, Dizzle, and Apollo)

-One of the greatest lyrical displays ever. Hands down.*Book of Rhymes(Chosen by All)

-The concept of the song itself lands it on the actual list, along with the execution.

*I Can(Chosen By Erika F.)

-This song was truly inspirational to me. I know I'm in the minority but I love this track.

*Surviving The Times(Chosen By Tye

-A great song, great reflecting track here for him.

*Poppa Was A Playa(Chosen By Tye)

-This always be one of my favorite Nas tracks because I can relate to it so well. Nas gives a detailed image of his life growing up with his father. The lessons, the confusion, the sense of becoming a man but understanding that no man is perfect.

*Doo Rags(Chosen By Apollo)

-The opening track of ths Lost Tapes is an all time classic.

*Stay Chiseled(Chosen By True)

-Large Professor provides the beat for Nas to spit some of his greatest lines.*War feat Keon Bryce(Chosen By True and Apollo)

-A track off the slept on Street's Disciple album, this beat is completely classic and the song itself is beautiful.

*Money Over Bullshit(Chosen by Tye)
-The first track off Hip-Hop is Dead is simple yet hard hitting. Nas just doing what he does best, paint pictures with great showcase of rhyming. A line in the hook is also simple yet hard hitting "afraid not of none of you cowards, but of my own strength."

*Still Dreaming featuring Kanye West (Chosen By True)

-The song itself is one of Nas' strongest in the later years of his career. The verses, the hook and beat. All classic.

*Queens Get The Money(Chosen by All)

-The intro to the Untitled album is one of Nas' greatest album openers.*America(Chosen by the Black Milk)

-From the Untitled album, Nas talks aboutthe country he lives in and its flaws.

*Fear Of The Black Man's Dick(Chosen By True)

-This song might be forgotten but the sheer honesty and truth despite the title makes this a legendary track. It's also hilarious.

*Testify(Chosen by True)

-My personal favorite track off Untitled. The beat, the focus in the verses. This song is amazing.

*Stay(Chosen By True)

-Life Is Good was a classic and this was the best song on the album to me.

*The World Is An Addiction(Chosen by Dizzle)

-A song that was lyricaly powerful and brought forth a strong message with it.

*Daughters(Chosen By True and Erika F.)

-This song especially hits True in the soul and it is a great track definitely.

*The Don(Chosen by Erika F.)

-Nas talking his shit, spitting with bravado is forever dope.

*Back When(Chosen by Erika F.)

-Reflective and honest, Nas talks about his old days over a throwback esque soulful track..

*Where's The Love(Chosen by Erika F.)

-A deluxe edition Life Is Good track, this song is very smooth and Nas delivers.

*Bye Baby(Chosen By All)

-The true ultimate hip hop breakup song. Nas put his soul on the line here. The results are legendary.

What songs do you think we missed on the list? Film, Small World, What Goes Around, Every Ghetto, Made You Look? Let us know your choice below in the comments to further the convo.